Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazemaru and Miharu ❯ Chapter 19

Two weeks later, Miharu awoke to the sounds and smells of the first rain. It was so soothing to wake up gradually, instead of Emi's indifferent poking. She lay in her bed a while, enjoying the calming sensations, until her maids began to stir. She got dressed leisurely, glad that it had warmed enough for her to wear only a few kimonos and a yokata underneath when they didn't have company. She walked out on the walkways, enjoying the pretty scenes of budding growth all around the palace. Soon they would have the rice festival, and she looked forward to the excitement.

 

There was no wind, and the drops fell flat and heavy straight to the earth, forming little pools and puddles on the muddy ground. The Koi were swimming in the pond again, and she watched little flashes of gold as they flitted around under the rippled surface of the pond.

 

Soon, I shall be married, she thought hopefully. Soon, I will be with Kaze again. She wondered how his war was going, but didn't worry about him much. He had sent her little notes now and then, much in the same way she sent them to him, and she kept them in a little cloth tied up close to her heart, along with the magic stone he had given her. She chatted with her maids lightly, and smiled as a few older servant women passed by, retired attendants of her mother.

 

“Hello, my child,” one of them said, patting her cheek, the skin of her hand dry and papery despite the moisture. She had been Miharu's nurse when she was young, but the old lady was too weak to take care of her any more. “You look very lovely today. I swear, you look just like a bride waiting for her husband to arrive, you look so happy and fresh. This rain does you good.”

 

Emi coughed, but said nothing.

 

“Isn't it wonderful?” Miharu slid a sleeve of her kimono back, exposing her wrist and arm so she could stick a hand out to be pelted by the warm rain.

 

The old woman nodded. “That it is. I haven't seen it rain like this at this time of year since I was very young. I do not think it was so much, even then. It is unusual, but as long as it doesn't continue too long it should make for a good season.”

 

Miharu nodded, but she was a little preoccupied. She wondered suddenly if this unusual weather had anything to do with Kaze. He controlled the wind, that much was clear, but she was unsure how much control he had over the weather itself. She smiled and nodded as the old woman went her way, thinking to herself.

 

At last she clapped her hands, an idea coming to her. “Wouldn't it be lovely,” she turned to face her maids, “To play a little music to accompany the rain?”

 

The girls all nodded and smiled, suggesting songs that would work well as they walked to the stage and pulled out their instruments. Her koto needed a little more tuning than usual because of the sudden humidity, but it eventually held. They played all the songs they could think of, enjoying the weather and each other's company.

 

***

 

Kazemaru-sama, however, was not doing well. Part of his mind was focused on bringing in the rain from the sea, which was a difficult task for him. Later he would have to make another tribute to the water-god who had agreed to help him.

 

The rest of his mind was occupied with battle. Whatever was going on in the north had just intensified, and he wondered if the other territories surrounding it were having as much trouble. He dispatched the last of the rank he had been fighting, and rose into the air to survey the battle. It was nearly over, which was good. He had been fighting since before dawn, and he couldn't keep the rain coming forever. He was glad he had no fire-elementals amongst his vassals, which would have made this plan impossible. As it was, most of them could either tolerate or benefit from the unstable ground, giving them a good advantage.

 

As he passed over, he could see that they hadn't suffered too much loss, and several of his vassals signaled that they had been victorious. He sent them to areas where there was still fighting, and continued on his way along the border. As he moved inland and the land became hillier, the fighting had been sparser. However, topping a hill he came upon a scene of utter destruction. The rain had not been as heavy in this area, and it appeared that there had been several fire-elementals in the battle. He scanned the area, trying to see who had won. It was difficult to tell, as there were only bodies, and not a living soul standing. At last he found his pennant, his heart sinking.

 

There was his vassal's body—he was a lizard demon, retaining some serpentine features although not all—and a few feet away was his head. From there it was easy to surmise what had happened. The ranks had become confused and disorderly, unable to band together to fight. Obviously there was at least one yokai in the invading bunch that had at least a rudimentary grasp of battle tactics. This was not good. As he looked around he noticed that most of the bodies were from his ranks, meaning the victory had been swift, his vassal's death most likely occurring early in the conflict. This meant that the invading yokai had already moved on inland towards…

 

“Shit!” Kazemaru cursed profusely, speeding along their trail. They were headed straight in the worst direction possible. They were headed for Kurihama. Kaze pulled up, not needing to know their exact path and took a strait-line shot for the palace. He hoped Miharu was safe. He hoped she would use the stone. He prayed that he could just get there in time. He wasn't willing to think about the alternatives.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN

Dun dun dun!!!!! Lol

So yeah, couple of helpful notes again.

Koi are big goldfish. (don't feel stupid if you didn't know this, it took me a long time to put it together.

When the old lady comments that Miharu looks like she's waiting for her husband to arrive it's because guys came to live with the bride's family in this time and place, not the other way around.

 

Get ready for some action!!!